Award-winning author China Miéville began his astounding career with King Rat—now in a new Tor Essentials edition—a mix of a young man's search for identity with a pulse-pounding story of revenge and madness. With a new introduction by Tim Maughan, author of Infinite Detail. Something is stirring in London's dark, stamping out its territory in brickdust and blood. Something has murdered Saul Garamond's father, and left Saul to pay for the crime. But a shadow from the urban waste breaks into Saul's prison cell and leads him to freedom: a shadow called King Rat. King Rat reveals to Saul his own royal heritage, a heritage that opens a new world for him, the world below London's streets. With drum-and-bass pounding the backstreets, Saul must confront the forces that would use him, the ones that would destroy him, and those that have shaped his own bizarre identity. Tor Essentials presents new editions of science fiction and fantasy titles of proven merit and lasting value, each volume introduced by an appropriate literary figure. At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.

Japanese POW camp Changi, Singapore: hell on earth for the soldiers contained within its barbed wire walls. Officers and enlisted men, all prisoners together, yet the old hierarchies and rivalries survive. An American corporal, known as the King, has used his personality and wiles to facilitate trading with guards and locals to get needed food, supplies, even information into the camp. The imprisoned upper-class officers have never had to do things for themselves, and now they are reduced to wearing rags while the King’s clean shirt, gained through guts and moxie, seems like luxury in comparison. In the camp, everything has its price and everything is for sale. But trading is illegal—and the King has made a formidable enemy. Robin Grey, the provost marshal, hates the King and all he represents. Grey, though he grew up modestly, fervently believes in the British class system: everyone should know their place, and he knows the King’s place is at the bottom. The King does have a friend in Peter Marlowe, who, though wary of the King and himself a product of the British system, finds himself drawn to the charismatic man who just might be the only one who can save them from both the inhumanity of the prison camp but also from themselves. Powerful and engrossing, King Rat artfully weaves the author’s own World War II prison camp experiences into a compelling narrative of survival amidst the grim realities of war and what men can do when pushed to the edge. A taut masterwork of World War II historical fiction by bestselling author James Clavell.

Marius dos Hellespont and his apprentice, Gerd, are professional looters of battlefields. When they stumble upon the corpse of the King of Scorby and Gerd is killed, Marius is mistaken for the monarch by one of the dead soldiers, is transported down to the Kingdom of the Dead. The dead need a King--the King is God's representative, and someone needs to remind God where they are. Marius is banished to the surface with one message: if he wants to recover his life he must find the dead a King. Which he fully intends to do. Just as soon as he stops running. File Under: Fantasy [ Royal Prospect | Loot | Keep Running | Living Dead ]

Susan’s been having very bad dreams, and without Tucker there to comfort her, she’s afraid something terrible has happened. He’s been ordered to stay in Cat City and do his duty as a gatekeeper, but it feels like the council is trying to keep him from his friend. It turns out Susan’s nightmares are real, however, and when Tucker discovers Susan has been kidnapped by their enemies, he tries to rally help from the cats. But if anyone is going to save her, it’s going to have to be him! With the Rat King ready to attack and an old enemy still plotting to take over Cat City, it’s up to Susan and Tucker to save the cats from their enemy one more time. KEYWORDS: chapter book, action adventure series, kids action adventure book, action adventure books for kids, magic, magic cats, magic books for kids

The classic holiday story of The Nutcracker is getting its own The Nightmare Before Christmas twist. We all know that Clara helped defeat the evil Rat King, and is taken to the Land of the Sweets to become their new queen. But what a lot of people don't know is that her younger brother Fritz had his own adventure that evening. Fritz the Rat King is being described as doing for The Nutcracker what Wicked did for The Wizard of Oz. This fully illustrated ballet adventure story will not only be enjoyed families who are familiar with the traditional holiday tale, but it will also encourage boys to look at ballet as thrilling and daring. The illustrations are created by multi award winning artist Eric Freeberg, who uses his skills and talents to bring the world of Fritz and his kingdom come alive.

The Rat King is fourteen illustrated adventures exploring horror and its tributaries. Featuring stories adapted by The NoSleep Podcast, this collection will stay with you long after the final page is turned.